I am here to say that yes, there’s some romance and some swoons in Rites Of Passage. Now, the pink color on the word “passage” on the front cover might signal romance to you as does the back cover where it talks about McKenna wanting an off limits drill sergeant. Sam is totally worthy of being main character of Rites Of Passage. I just really identified with how Hensley wrote Sam with such fierce determination. I love that she is irritated with her fellow female recruits when they break the rules - because I would have that exact same reaction.

I loved that Mac was so rigid about following the rules and doing all that she could to be a perfect recruit, even though everyone wants her to fail. She is an actual trailblazer and I love that about her.

She is determined and never ever gives up. She’s disciplined, she has little patience for people who are not. Mac is totally my type of main character. It’s going to take sheer will and determination to keep Sam in DMA. While she’s giving it her best, she discovers that the need to drive her out of the academy runs much deeper than some sexist, boys club cadets but runs all the way to a secret society that will do anything to force her out. Sam, also called Mac, soldiers on because she was raised in a military family and McKennas do not give up or give in. Unfortunately, a lot of the cadets at the academy do not want her there and will do anything to push her out. Sam, who is all brass balls, goes for the dare. This dare that she’s about to complete comes from her now deceased brother, Amos, and that is to attend and be among the first class of female recruits at the previously all-male Denmark Military Academy. Sam McKenna is one badass mofo so, she never ever turns down a dare. (I read a lot and thankfully some great books, so I can’t make the claim that I never have visceral reactions UNTIL this book because that would be a lie)

I have not had such a visceral reaction to a book since like 10 books back. Or, at least I do, because I don’t want to spend time reading bullshit books, I want to spend time reading books that are AMAZING. Me being me, I said ‘OKAY but I have to get through 3 other books first.’ When a friend texts you to read a book and it’s a friend who actually has good taste in books, you read the book. These plans completely changed when Jamie over at the Perpetual Page Turner texted me and said READ RITES OF PASSAGE. I had intended to read the book, but probably when the snow is falling and under a blanket. Hensley, I had the book in a pile in front of other books in my bookcase. Before reading Rites Of Passage by Joy N.

Rites of passage by joy n hensley